Re: Boca Chica beach has snorkeling
Boca Chica has some interesting snorkeling, but not much fish inside the reef. I've seen an occassional ray, but the reef, which protrudes above the water level keeps most fish on the other side where it is too rough to snorkel. If you want good snorkeling in Boca Chica, you need to know where to go. Most of the bay is just clean white sand, which doesn't make very interesting snorkeling.
Where the reef comes near the shore in front of the Hamaca, there are loads of sea urchins and small marine life to see, but you will be in 18-24 inches of water. On a calm day, you can take a 10 minute boat ride to a number of places outside the reef, including some caves for some more snorkeling.
Since one generally won't snorkel more than an hour a day, I'd pick the town based on other considerations. The road between Juan Dolio and Boca Chica is essentially rural highway and 20-30 minutes by car from one to the other. You can rent a car and the driving is no problem at all. It is nothing like the city driving people usually write about on this board. I've even done the trip myself riding an rented dirt bike.
Pick Boca Chica if you want to leave the resort and explore the town, the local bars, and interact with the locals.
Pick Juan Dolio if you never plan to leave the resort, because outside the resort, Boca Chica is far more varied and nicer in just about every aspect. Hundreds of places to eat, drink, and shop in Boca Chica vs. only a handful in Juan Dolio.
In the last few weeks, Boca Chica installed all new street lights, so the place is fairly well lit up at night now.
